Longtime Guernsey County physician Vora retires

Thursday

A physician who served the Guernsey County community for nearly four decades closed that chapter of his life Wednesday and will open a new chapter in central Ohio, near his children and grandchildren.

Dr. Shashi Vora, a native of Mumbai, India, arrived in Guernsey County on July 4, 1980 to work in the emergency department of what is now Southeastern Med. During the year he spent in that position, he had the opportunity to observe the community.

He liked what he saw and experienced. Everyone, from patients to colleagues and community people in general, welcomed him and his wife, Jayshri.

The late Dr. Quentin Knauer and his wife, Mary, were especially helpful.

"They were like parents to us," Vora said. "On good days and bad days, they always did their best to support us."

While he was working in the emergency room, he kept encountering the same question.

"People were asking me all of the time, 'Where is your office, doctor?'" Vora said. "So, I said, 'It looks like they need me.'"

Other physicians and hospital staff and officials — including former Chief Executive Officer Dale Gotschall — told him there was a need for his services.

A dentist, Francis Duff, also pitched in with support, providing Dr. Vora with office space rent-free for six months. (There he remained until three years ago when he closed his solo practice and joined the staff of physicians and other health care professionals at Medical Associates of Cambridge.)

With all of that support, Vora quickly established roots in Cambridge.

"My kids [Monica and Sonali] were born and raised right here in Cambridge," he said. "Both of them graduated from Cambridge High School and became doctors [in their own right].

"I am thankful to the community. They treated them like their own kids right from Day One, with so much love and affection."

Vora completed his medical training at G.S. Medical College in Mumbai and served his internal medicine residency training at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, NJ.

Because he knew from his youth that he wanted to become a physician, his training was, as it were, 30 years in the making.

"Right from elementary school, that was ingrained in me that I wanted to be a doctor," he said. "That made a difference. I had a cousin who was a physician and we honored him so much. It made a big impression."

Over the years, Vora gained a great deal of affection and respect for the people of Guernsey County. So, as he began to contemplate retirement, the continued treatment of his patients weighed on his mind and was, perhaps, his chief concern, as finding a primary care physician can be a trying, difficult process for people.

Joining Medical Associates of Cambridge enabled him to resolve his worries in that regard.

"I cannot thank Patrick Goggin enough for letting me have a transition from my solo practice to my retirement and giving me these three years to continue to care for all of these patients that I have," Vora said.

"Being able to transfer their care to a local physician in this practice helped me a lot. It gave me peace of mind. I am feeling comfortable now transferring their care to other people."

Dr. Goggin empathized with Vora's concern.

"He has had some patients for 10, 20 or even more than 30 years," Goggin said. "So, when you have that kind of professional relationship for that long, it certainly can be a hard transition for both the doctor and the patient."

Prior to Vora joining Medical Associates, none of the staff had worked with him, but everyone knew him.

"He had been such a well respected physician for so long that it was an easy decision to invite him to join our team," Goggin said. "It's been truly a pleasure working with him. Every day, he came to work with a smile on his face — very light hearted, respectful and friendly with all of the staff and patients."

Although he is moving into a new chapter of his life, Vora is not quite ready to hang up his stethoscope. He plans to do some missionary work and also volunteer at a free clinic for patients who do not have health care. He will offer his services to a drug rehabilitation clinic for people trying to recover from addiction.

"These are neglected people who don't have anybody to fall back on," he said.

He also will explore the possibility of doing some teaching as a volunteer at a medical school.

Vora said he was grateful to his patients for trusting him to care for them at times when they were vulnerable.

But the relationship was not a one-way street.

"My heart is full since they let me become a better doctor and a better person," he said. "I am grateful for that."

Vora said he will never forget Cambridge nor will the community be far from his mind.

"I could not ask for any better community to live in than Cambridge, Ohio," he said. "There is mixed feelings in leaving it, but I want to be closer to my other family members since they are raising their own families now."

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